Events

Registration required (ages 16+) Do you love the texture and colors of fall? Join a naturalist for a fall hike to gather golden grasses, dried seeds and pops of color from berries. Learn about the native plants that work well in the landscape. Participants will then create a door swag from their bounty.

Registration required (all ages) Peek behind the scenes of the Discovery Center animal exhibits. Join us as we care for our turtles, amphibians and fish and see what these animals eat. A naturalist will be available to answer any of your questions.

Fish or Treat - Halloween Fishing for Families

Everyone is welcome, wear your Halloween costume if you like and spend a little family time fishing this Halloween. Of course everyone gets to fish but we'll also have fishing themed games and prizes for biggest fish of the day and scariest costume.

Rods, tackle, bait and fishing coaches will be provided.

Fishing permit are NOT required to fish during this event.

Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please be sure to register each participant who will be attending separately. Contact the instructor if you need any assistance with registration.

Registration required (all ages) Snakes, spiders and bats aren't so scary when you get to know them. Join the fun on the scariest day of the year as we learn about what makes these supposedly scary guys cool and interesting! Kids will make a fun Halloween bag using animal tracks.

Registration required (all ages) Snakes, spiders and bats aren't so scary when you get to know them. Join the fun on the scariest day of the year as we learn about what makes these supposedly scary guys cool and interesting! Kids will make a fun Halloween bag using animal tracks.

Registration required for each individual attending (all ages)
Nature may sometimes seem creepy, but every creature has a job in the web of life. Search for the next clue to guide you on a unique exploration of prairie habitat while meeting “creepy” critters at staffed stations along the trail.

Learn the steps necessary to process wild game yourself. We will discuss field dressing a deer and demonstrate how to skin and process a game animal in easy steps with minimum equipment. You will learn tips on how to handle and package the meat, ensuring that when you pull it out of the freezer, it is fresh and tasty.

Registration required (all ages) Late fall and early winter are times for reflection in the garden. As frost settles on the landscape and plants go dormant for the winter, conscious clean-up can begin. Many of our native species overwinter in leaf litter, stems and underground. What you leave and how you leave it greatly impacts the diversity of flora and fauna alike in the spring. Join our native landscape specialists to see how they handle cutting, clean-up, brush piles and more.

Registration required for each attending (families)
What’s with all those little hard capped nuts in our yards? Join us to discover the reasons why Missouri’s oak trees drop so many acorns. These nuts are a staple for many of Missouri’s wild critters.

Registration required (all ages) The Discovery Center backyard is a six-acre urban oasis for native plants and wildlife. Join the naturalist for a one-hour interpretive walk around our trails and gardens. We'll meet some of the wild and native trees, plants and animals that make a living right here in the middle of Kansas City!

Registration required for youngsters only (ages 3-5 with an adult)
Turkeys have some strange and entertaining behaviors and adaptations. Some of these behaviors we can see and some we can hear. Some we can even do ourselves! Come explore what it’s like to be a turkey.

Registration required (ages 9+) Primitive skills enthusiasts use atlatls as a alternative form of hunting deer, turkey and fish in Missouri. Others use this Native American hunting tool for sport, throwing for distance or accuracy. Step outside with us to find a challenging new sport in today's modern world. Test your skill as you attempt to hit the target using this unique spear-thrower! Get ready to meet the challenge!